Paul Anderson Review 2022

Port Tampa Bay celebrated significant milestones in the fiscal year which ended in September 2022. As the nation returned to work, in-person conferences, and travel, the team at Port Tampa Bay continued to grow and meet the demands of our expanding region by building on the successful relationships and dynamic business lines that we support.

Throughout this year, our team was able to do what we do best – promote the port and expand business. The key event to encapsulate this idea was our Return-to-Cruise event. Celebrating the return of passengers and crew aboard a Royal Caribbean ship after the COVID hiatus, all of our team worked to get this critical milestone in the books. We held celebrations for each of our cruise partners as they resumed operations from Port Tampa Bay. After the uncertainty of the past few years, returning to a regular cruising schedule allowed the most prominently public-facing side of the port to shine again. I am confident that this business will continue to grow, and our vibrant slice of the Channelside area will return to welcoming more than a million cruise passengers each year.

Our overall performance remains strong, with general cargo increases of over 30% throughout the year. The growth in our container business continues, while our mainstays of steel and construction materials is as impressive as ever: up 109% in steel, 136% in forest products. Overall diversification in these areas including solar steel racking systems and super sacks (for commodities like cement and plastic resins) will continue to bring impressive growth to our cargo lines. Adding new tenants like North Atlantic Ocean Carrier, which works with our new tenant Dole weekly container service, to move new types of cargo is exciting and exactly what we expect from our port’s dynamic and impressive business development team.

This continual growth shows itself in our financial performance as well: operating income in FY22, which is $8.9 million over budget of 21.5 million and $30.5 million, about 41%. We were able to keep expenses below budget, while seeing increases in usage fees and rentals. Most importantly, our operating margin for FY22 was a very robust 48%.

My team and I traveled extensively this year as we got back to in-person conferences and conventions. From the American Association of Port Authorities (where I serve on the board) and the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (a high-impact organization that I now serve as chair), to TPM, Seatrade, PMA, and many others, We worked to keep Port Tampa Bay at the top of mind with our key stakeholders including shippers, carriers, retailers, cruise lines, and elected officials. Likewise, I was proud to host several events here at the port, like our annual Steel Conference, AAPA’s Shifting Trades, the Associated Industries of Florida’s Cybersecurity Forum, and a special event on the scourge of human trafficking with the National Conference of State Legislators. As Chair of the Florida Ocean Alliance, I was able to bring additional focus to the intersection of the Blue Economy and ecological resilience. This group plays a critical role in enhancing the importance of the marine ecosystem, and I am proud of the work we have done in that arena. These events are critical to our success as a port, and I encourage our Business Development team to represent us in as many places as possible.

This year also stood out for one key event I was incredibly proud to host: the Commissioning of the USCGC Scheuerman. Watching this ship come to life filled me with pride for our nation and the men and women that serve in the United States military. These Coast Guard personnel carry out critical missions on our behalf, and having this ship commissioned at Port Tampa Bay was a truly exceptional event. I fully expect that our port will host more of these remarkable events in the years to come.

I was also proud to break down a wall – physically and metaphorically – as our Seafarer’s Center began construction on a new USF College of Nursing clinic right in their building. This innovative and needed relationship was a dream just a few short years ago, and now we’re a few months away from cutting the ribbon on this new facility. Serving our seafarers with basic, though necessary, health services as the young men and women from the USF Nursing program get hands-on experience is a great way to serve both our maritime community and our friends and neighbors in education.

As the largest and most diverse port in the state, I continue to remain focused on leading the industry; these events, programs, and new initiatives certainly make me proud of the dynamic nature of our port. I’m also proud that we continue to maintain a high baseline of visibility with our elected and appointed leaders at the local, state, and federal level.

Our outreach continued through our briefings and port tours, as well as hosting several roundtable events and press conferences. These relationships with state officials were critical this year, as we were able to secure funding to expand one of our fastest-growing berths on Hooker’s point to ensure that both perishable goods and construction materials are able to continue flowing smoothly. On the federal level, major infrastructure legislation was at the top of the agenda, and Port Tampa Bay worked closely with our delegation members in Washington, DC to ensure that our needs were protected. Through both policy and funding legislation, we have stayed vigilant and proactive in our education and communication with elected and appointed officials.

This year, thanks to those efforts, we were awarded a significant $12.6 million RAISE grant from USDOT to continue our expansion in the Port Redwing area. With Ardent Mills as the anchor of this area of the port, more bulk commodities will use this new berth – continuing our growth in bulk cargo and distribution activity. While we can’t always rely on federal funding, our consistent focus on pushing for improvements to the federal grant delivery system is beginning to pay dividends. Additional attention from USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and our strong relationships with our Senators and members of the House of Representatives, shows that Port Tampa Bay is a key player in the nation’s capitol.

Finally, this year came with major recognition of our performance as a workplace. Port Tampa Bay and our employees continue to be recognized by industry and regional associations for their incredible work, and I’m proud to have these stellar individuals on our team. Likewise, we added to our ranks this year with key hires in my executive team. Bill Rein and Laura Lenhart, now onboard in Real Estate and Government Affairs, respectively, will push our port to new heights through their incredible expertise and experience. I’m also proud to have brought on Captain Matt Thompson into our operations department. After serving as Commander of Sector St. Petersburg and Captain of the Port for the US Coast Guard, he will continue to facilitate our continual growth by keeping our cruise lines running smoothly and focusing on the ever-critical arena of emergency preparedness.

Matt got an early test, as we weathered Hurricane Ian just a few short weeks ago. This major storm put all of us to the test as the initial track had Port Tampa Bay in the crosshairs. While we dodged the worst, our critical role as the energy gateway for Central Florida was on display. I was proud of the hard work of our team, and as I surveyed port property in the hours before and after landfall, I was reminded of how important our annual hurricane exercise truly is. After the storm passed, we opened quickly and safely, returning crucial fuel to those most in need. I was in constant communication with Florida’s Secretary of Transportation, the Governor’s office, and our state and federal elected officials. We worked hard, and returned to normal operations without any major incidents.

Looking back at this fiscal year, I am incredibly pleased with the ground we’ve covered. Port Tampa Bay’s focus on succeeding where other states have challenges, working with our elected officials, regional business leaders, and the maritime community remains unmatched. I am proud to lead such a dynamic and successful organization.